The group has realized how the history of the Philippines – specifically the colonization of the country by Spain, has shaped not just any society, but the society we ourselves are a part of, and to a greater extent, it has shaped ourselves as well. Their influence is evident in many aspects of the country’s existence – names of places, provinces, objects and people, the domination of Roman Catholicism, architectural structures, and many more. But aside from these, we have realized that their influence has reached far beyond this. Through the sociological perspective, we have come to realize that this has molded even who we are as persons. It is because of the coming of the Spaniards that we, as individuals, pray to God the father every time we are faced with a difficult situation like an exam or a misunderstanding with a friend, look forward to December because of the excitement of celebrating Christmas through a Noche Buena with the family, look forward to afternoon siestas, believe that we never need to worry about our school projects and think “bahala na ang Diyos” because we know that God is there to take care of things for us. So many aspects of our everyday lives have been molded by this country’s history, and we are now conscious of this reality.

      Reflecting upon this, we have realized that we as individuals also play a role in the shaping of the country’s history. By following traditions and customs that have stemmed from the Spanish rule, such as going to mass every Sunday, being one with fellow Catholics in celebrating Christ’s death and resurrection during Holy Week, speaking Filipino words that have stemmed from the Spanish language such as “kamusta”, etc., we are unconsciously strengthening and keeping the Spanish influence present in our own culture. It is through each of our actions that the Spanish traditions have stayed with us.

      In general, we have learned to recognize how the Filipino culture is an interplay of a culture’s influence on us (Spanish culture’s effect on us as individuals) and our own influence on a culture (our individual influence on the Filipino culture, shaped by the Spanish culture).